30 WWE Images That Defined 2016

2016 has, without doubt, been an exceptionally shocking, eventful year in WWE. Many things have happened we, as wrestling fans, never expected: the debuts of several wrestlers we assumed would never set foot in WWE or NXT; matches we never would have dreamed of, including one on the grandest stage of all; and, of course, that Survivor Series main event.

Every calendar year in WWE is packed with huge moments, but 2016 has been overflowing with such incidents - excessive even by the lofty standards of professional wrestling. Yes, the continued rise of the Network has made it more possible than ever to relive the excitement, but looking back upon the last twelve months as a series of still images tells a compelling story in its own right.

Here are 30 of the 2016's defining photographs, snapshots of a year which has been exciting, infuriating, awe-inspiring, and downright impossible to predict. Hold onto your hats...

After weeks of speculation, AJ Styles makes a monumental debut in the Royal Rumble match.

This incident rounded off one of the most shocking ship-jumps in wrestling history. Styles - a man synonymous with TNA and indie wrestling for over a decade - cut short a critically-acclaimed heel run in NJPW to join Vince McMahon's promotion. He was joined by stablemates Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, as well as homegrown New Japan star Shinsuke Nakamura.

Styles' performance in the match was a decent one, lasting almost half an hour before being eliminated by Kevin Owens. However, the raucous reception he received will live far longer in the memory.